📍R A J A S T H A N

Raj Solanki picked up the dialer and pressed Aarav's number. The phone rang for three to four times before Aarav finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Aarav, tum aao aur usse le jao," Raj said, his voice firm, giving no room for refusal.

"Kyu? Itni bhari par Rahi vo?" Aarav mocked, his tone laced with amusement.

"Toh tum nahi aaoge?" Raj's voice hardened. "Toh Mai uske naam se tumhara naam hata Raha hun."

Aarav's anger flared, his voice growing harsh. "Agar aisa socha bhi toh mai aapko apne haathon se marunga." He spat out the words with fury.

Raj didn't flinch. "Mai aisa kar raha hun." And with that, he cut the call, leaving Aarav seething with rage and confusion.

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📍M O N T M A R T R E, P A R I S

Ishvik was at a success party, celebrating with one of his actor friends. Laughter and music filled the air as people enjoyed the night. Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression changing in an instant. Excusing himself from the crowd, he moved away to take the call.

When he returned, the carefree smile he wore earlier had faded, replaced by a tense, almost brooding look. Without wasting any time, Ishvik pulled out his phone and dialed his manager.

"Meri flight book karo, mujhe aaj hi India Jana hai," he said, his voice firm, a sense of urgency lacing every word.

Ishvik left the party abruptly, his usual calm demeanor replaced by restless energy. The vibrant lights and cheerful voices faded behind him as he stepped into the cool Parisian night.

A few minutes later, his manager called to confirm. "Your flight is in six hours," the voice informed him.

Ishvik nodded, even though no one could see him. He clenched his phone tightly, knowing that the next six hours would feel like an eternity. Each passing minute would weigh heavily, the tension building as his mind raced with thoughts of what awaited him back in India.

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📍M U M B A I

Ansh sat outside the emergency room, his hands gripping his head as he leaned forward. The tension in his body was palpable, his mind consumed by the fear of losing another family member. His grandfather, Devendra Singh, had suffered a heart attack, and Ansh had rushed here from his office the moment he got the call.

His thoughts spiraled into a dark place, the memories of his family's deaths replaying like a haunting reel. He couldn't bear to lose anyone else. It was his deepest trauma, one that never truly healed.

Maya came running down the corridor, her face pale with worry. She dropped her bag and sat beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Bhai, dadu theek ho jayenga," she said softly, trying to sound confident even as her voice trembled. She knew her brother's strength kept the family together, but she also knew his fears ran deep when it came to family.

Ansh didn't respond, his head still bowed. His fists clenched tightly, the tension evident in his knuckles as he struggled to control his anxiety.

Maya stood up quietly, deciding to get some water for him. As she walked away, a phone began to ring beside him.

It wasn't his. Ansh glanced to his side and saw Maya's phone on the chair where she had been sitting. The screen lit up with an incoming call. He let it ring, uninterested, but it stopped momentarily only to start ringing again. The persistence of the caller caught his attention, and his gaze lingered on the phone, debating whether to pick it up.

The caller ID displayed a single word: Rain.

Ansh stared at the name for a second, his brows furrowing slightly. The phone rang again, insistent. This time, he picked it up, holding it hesitantly to his ear.

Before he could utter a word, a soft voice broke through the silence. Sweet, but trembling, laced with the unmistakable heaviness of someone who had been crying-perhaps still crying.

"Hello, Maya... vo..."

The voice wavered, but before she could finish, Ansh interrupted. "Hello?"

There was a pause, the silence between them stretching. On the other end, Arshia froze, startled by the unfamiliar voice. She hadn't expected anyone else to answer. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

It was only after her uncle had told her about the heated conversation he had with Aarav that she had gathered the courage to call Maya. But now, hearing this stranger's voice, her chest tightened with unease.

Ansh waited patiently, sensing her hesitation but unsure of the reason behind it.

- F L A S H B A C K -

1 year ago

Maya was lying on her bed, aimlessly scrolling through Instagram when a stunning candid shot of a Rajasthan street stopped her thumb mid-swipe. The colors, the life, and the raw beauty captured in the frame mesmerized her. Without hesitation, she tapped on the profile.

The account was filled with similar pictures, each one more breathtaking than the last. Captions were minimal, letting the photos speak for themselves.

Unable to resist, Maya sent a message:

"Did you click all these??"

A reply came almost immediately.

"Yes"

"It's so amazing and heartwarming," Maya typed back, genuinely impressed.

And that was the start of something special. Their conversations flowed naturally, spanning everything from photography to life's small yet significant moments. Over time, Maya discovered that the account belonged to a girl named Arshia, who was two years younger than her but carried a wisdom and maturity beyond her years.

Whenever Maya faced any trouble, she found herself turning to Arshia. Whether it was seeking advice, needing comfort, or simply venting, Arshia always had the right words. Her calm and thoughtful nature was a soothing balm to Maya's chaotic days.

One evening, after a particularly rough day, Maya told Arshia, "You know, talking to you feels like standing in the rain- calm, refreshing, but so fascinating."

Arshia chuckled on the other side of the call. "Rain? That's a new one."

From that day on, Maya began calling her Rain, and the name stuck. Rain was her favorite weather, and Arshia had become her favorite person.

- F L A S H B A C K E N D S -

"Hello, Maya... vo..."

Before she could utter more, a deep voice broke through the silence. Deep, but trembling, laced with the unmistakable heaviness of someone who had been crying-perhaps still crying.

"Hello?"

"Kon?" Arshia's voice was cautious, almost hesitant.

"Maya ka bhai," he replied, his tone steady but subdued. "She's not here, and her phone kept ringing so..."

"Oh... okay, I'll call later," she interrupted quickly, her voice faltering. Before he could respond, the line went dead.

As Ansh placed Maya's phone back on the table, Maya returned with a bottle of water, her steps hurried but careful. She handed it to him silently, her concern evident in her eyes.

He twisted the cap open and took a few sips. The coolness of the water calmed him, the tightness in his chest easing slightly.

Was it the water that brought relief? Or was it... that girl?

The unexpected call had momentarily pulled him out of the suffocating spiral of his thoughts, distracted him from the anxiety that had been clawing at him. Otherwise, he wasn't sure how much longer he could have held himself together.

"Someone was calling," Ansh pointed toward her phone, his voice neutral but eyes briefly flicking to the screen.

Maya picked up her phone and saw the name Rain flashing on the caller ID.

"I'll be back," she murmured, clutching the phone as she moved away to call Arshia back.

---

The phone rang, and Arshia stared at the screen for a moment before picking it up. Maya's name flashed brightly, a small respite in her storm of emotions.

"Hello?" Arshia's voice was barely audible, trembling under the weight of unshed tears.

Maya instantly sensed something was wrong. "Arshia, what happened? Why are you crying?"

A pause, heavy and suffocating. Then, finally, Arshia's broken whisper came through. "Vo nahi aa raha, Maya..."

Maya sat up straighter, her concern deepening. She didn't need to ask who. They had spoken about Aarav endlessly, about her hope that he would come, that he would claim her like some unspoken promise fulfilled.

"What do you mean he's not coming? Did he say something?" Maya's voice was sharp, protective, as if she could somehow shield Arshia from the hurt.

Arshia let out a shaky breath, her voice cracking. "He hasn't said anything... doesn't need to. He's just nut coming, Maya. He never planned to."

Maya's heart ached for her friend. She wanted to reach through the phone and hold her, comfort her in any way she could. "Arshia, listen to me. This doesn't define you. You're stronger than this -stronger than him."

But all Arshia could hear was the echo of her own shattered expectations. "Maya, I waited for so long... I thought he would come. I thought-" Her voice broke completely, the pain too raw to be contained.

Maya swallowed hard, willing herself to stay composed for Arshia. "And if he didn't, then he doesn't deserve you. Let him go, Arshia. Don't let his absence dictate your worth."

The line went quiet for a moment, save for Arshia's soft, uneven breaths. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Maybe he never saw me the way I saw him... maybe I was always waiting for nothing."

Maya closed her eyes, her grip tightening on the phone. "Arshia, you weren't waiting for nothing. You were waiting because you believed, and that belief? It's what makes you beautiful. But now, it's time to believe in yourself. Let him go."

Arshia didn't respond, the silence on her end heavy with unspoken words. The call ended soon after, but the weight of that conversation stayed with Maya long after.

Maya hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice steady but firm, as though trying to anchor Arshia to reality. "Arshia, did you forget why you wanted to go to Mumbai in the first place? Your purpose? Your dreams? It was never about him."

Arshia sniffled softly, the tears still streaking her face. "Maya, you don't understand. Fir years, I thought... I thought everything would make sense if he just came back. That maybe... maybe he still cared."

Maya's tone sharpened, a protective edge slicing through her words. "And look where that's gotten you. He's not here, Arshia. He's never been here for you-not when you needed him the most. You wanted to go to Mumbai for you, to rebuild your life, to create something on your terms. Don't let him take that from you."

Arshia stayed quiet, her silence filled with an internal battle, the war between lingering hope and newfound resolve.

Maya pressed on, her voice softening but losing none of its conviction. "You don't need him, Arshia. You never did. This pain? It's temporary. But your purpose, your dreams-they're what will keep you moving forward. Don't let him win by letting him hold you back."

Arshia wiped her face, her tears slowing as Maya's words began to sink in. Her voice, though shaky, carried a flicker of strength. "Maybe you're right... Maybe it's time I stop waiting for him and start living for myself."

Maya's smile was almost audible over the line. "That's my girl. Now, pack your bags, hold your head high, and show the world what Arshia Solanki is capable of. Mumbai is waiting for you, not him."

The call ended, and as Arshia stared out the window, a small fire ignited within her. It wasn't much, but it was enough to push her forward-to remind her of the dreams she had put on hold and the life that was still hers to claim.

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